'Ghostbusters' holds its own, but 'Life of Pets still No. 1


              FILE - In this April 12, 2016, file photo, director Paul Feig, center, poses with cast members, from left, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones during the Sony Pictures Entertainment presentation of "Ghostbusters," at CinemaCon 2016 in Las Vegas. The film will be released nationwide on Friday, July 15. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - In this April 12, 2016, file photo, director Paul Feig, center, poses with cast members, from left, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones during the Sony Pictures Entertainment presentation of "Ghostbusters," at CinemaCon 2016 in Las Vegas. The film will be released nationwide on Friday, July 15. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) - After months of prerelease debate, Sony Picture's female-led "Ghostbusters" reboot finally arrived in theaters as neither a massive success nor the bomb some predicted, as the much-scrutinized film opened with an estimated $46 million in North American theaters, second to the holdover hit "The Secret Life of Pets."

According to studio estimates Sunday, "The Secret Life of Pets" stayed on top with $50.6 million in its second week.

But all eyes were on Paul Feig's "Ghostbusters," starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig. Sony called the result "a triumph." Audiences gave it a solid B-plus CinemaScore.

Yet given its hefty price tag - the film cost $144 million to make, after rebates - it's a relatively tepid start for "Ghostbusters" that will put pressure on the film to perform well overseas.

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